Clint Thompson
Experience meets exuberance Friday night in a Class AAAA playoff opener at Thomas County Stadium. Making its first postseason appearance, Alcovy looks to pull off a huge playoff upset when it travels to Thomasville to play five-time champion Thomas County Central.
Central is rolling right now, having won nine straight. Its bread-and-butter — the split-back veer offense — is improving every week. But the reason the Yellow Jackets are Region 1 champs is simple — defense. Central is allowing an average of just eight points per game. It is fast and big along the front line with Ray Drew and Caleb Heard. Its linebackers and secondary are fast and can deliver bone-jarring hits. There is not a weakness on this defense. That's what has Central in the postseason for the 19th straight season.
Alcovy set a team record this year with seven victories. Capturing win No. 8 won't be easy on the road in a hostile playoff atmosphere. Just hearing the words "Welcome to Thomas County Stadium" during the pregame intro is enough to send chills down any teenager's spine, especially if they're not used to it. The Tigers aren't and they will be caged tonight.
Central 31, Alcovy 7
Henry County at
Thomasville
It's gut-check time for the Thomasville Bulldogs.
Up until last week, the Bulldogs were knocking off one Region 1-AA team right after the other. Brooks County, Cook, Mitchell County, Berrien — nobody was able to match up with Thomasville until it met Fitzgerald. The Purple Hurricanes humbled the Bulldogs to the tune of a 49-14 beatdown.
How can the Bulldogs rebound? It helps that they're playing at home. It also doesn't hurt that they're still loaded on offense and defense. The speed and athleticsm Thomasville has is comparable to any team in the state. It will be hard to defeat the Bulldogs.
Its opponent won't be intimidated, however. Henry County has won five straight entering tonight. The Warhawks also post a 6-1 record in Region 4 play. They've been in tough games this year and are a solid No. 3 seed.
It's a bad break for the Bulldogs.
Henry County 17,
Thomasville 13
Woodland, Henry at Cairo
The defending Class AAA champ is back in the playoffs. That's not a surprise. Playoffs and Cairo go hand in hand. So do playoff victories. The Syrupmakers won won nine playoff games the previous two seasons en route to back-to-back title game appearances. Making a third straight will be tough for this year's Syrupmakers, who have yet to play a complete game. Will it finally happen Friday night?
Cairo 20,
Woodland, Henry 12
